New Car Review: 2004 Jaguar S-Type 3.0

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS

Few names in the auto industry are as celebrated as Jaguar.
It started business as the Swallow Sidecar Company in 1922,
making motorcycle sidecars, and, later, custom bodies for
production cars. But these were affordable middle-class cars,
not the bespoke, exclusive marques for which most custom bodies
were built. Beautiful coachwork on an affordable car was a
Jaguar hallmark before the company was known as Jaguar, a name
first used in 1936. Jaguar's glory days were after World War
II, and it became famous for a series of high-performance but
(relatively) affordable two-seater sports car and sports luxury
sedans.

Sadly, when the British auto industry went into decline
from the late 1960s, Jaguar seemed destined to follow.
Ownership changed several times, and by the early 1990s the
company seemed to be doomed to extinction. There was too much
heritage at stake, and Ford Motor Company, which was on a
buying spree, stepped in. Ford invested huge sums of money in
new production facilities, and gave Jaguar access to the Ford
global parts bin.

Projects that were in the works at the time
of the sale - most importantly the XK8 sports car - became
reality, and a new, more affordable Jaguar sedan was planned.
That sedan was the S-Type, introduced in the 2000 model year.
To say that it saved Jaguar is not overstatement.

To moderate
the cost, Ford-sourced parts were used. The chassis platform
was shared with the Lincoln LS; the V6 engine was a cousin to
that used in the Ford Taurus (the V8 is Jaguar's own). But a
vehicle is more than the sum of its parts, and Jaguar modified
the Ford parts to its own purposes anyway. The S-Type was
wrapped in a gorgeous body that reflected Jaguar heritage, and
sold at a realistic price.

The strategy that worked throughout
early Jaguar history worked again. People who could only dream
of a Jaguar could suddenly buy one, and sales very quickly
rose. But 2000 was four years ago, and the mid-luxury class is
ruthlessly competitive. With new models, including the
supercharged R, expanding its market reach and constant
improvements, it has kept pace with its competition.

I recently
sampled a new S-Type 3.0, the ``entry level'' model. It's not
``entry level'' at all, it's a fully-equipped Jaguar, with
luxury appointments done the way Jaguar does best and fine
levels of refinement, comfort, and performance. It still bodes
well for Jaguar's future.

APPEARANCE: Looks sell cars, and looks sell Jaguars,
especially the S-Type. Even four years after its debut, it
draws smiles and attention. In designing the S-Type, Jaguar
utilized classic lines in a way that is not self-consciously
retro, but certainly pays homage to its heritage. The main
influence is the Mark II sedan built during the 1960s, which
itself was influenced by the XK-series sports Jaguars of the
1950s. The curves of the fenders and roof, and the oval grille
flanked by faired-in headlights give a more-than-passing nod to
the Mk.II, but the S-Type's proportions are lower and wider in
the modern manner. A cleanly-truncated tail replaces the Mk.
II's rounded rear. But, for anyone who has ever seen an old
Jaguar in a movie or in the sheetmetal, there is absolutely no
doubt as to the manufacturer.

COMFORT: Jaguar utilized its heritage inside of the S-Type,
too. The S-Type's interior will be familiar to anyone who has
seen the inside of a Jaguar sedan in the past decade. If it's
not as opulent as the XJ, it fits into the contemporary
mid-luxury class well. As expected, leather adorns the seats
and door panels, with genuine wood trim on the doors and
instrument panel. A wood-and-leather steering wheel rim adds
elegance and control. The 3.0's two-tone interior color scheme
is international contemporary; the leather-trimmed
horseshoe-shaped surround to the center stack is pure Jaguar.
The front seats provide comfort and support for any length of
journey; power-adjustable pedals and power tilt and reach
adjustment of the steering wheel allow all drivers to find the
perfect driving position. Despite the classic styling, there
are some interesting modern features. Looking for the parking
brake? Try the small lever at the rear of the console - it
actuates the electronically-controlled parking brake. Rear seat
room is average for the class, with good comfort for two
outboard passengers of moderate stature. The trunk is long and
flat, and inside is found a classic British accoutrement - an
umbrella.

ROADABILITY: In standard trim, the S-Type 3.0 is every bit a
contemporary world-class luxury car. Yes, there are
Ford-sourced parts under the skin, but the differences in
design and tuning and the resulting feel between the Lincoln LS
and the S-Type are considerable. The S-Type's chassis has been
revised for increased rigidity, and aluminum front suspension
components reduce unsprung weight for quicker handling
response. In the European manner, the suspension tuning is
comfortably compliant yet firm enough for good handling when
the road gets interesting.

PERFORMANCE: Yes, the V6 found in the S-Type 3.0 is based on
the ``Duratec'' dual overhead cam engine found in the Ford
Taurus. But Jaguar used other manufacturer's engines earlier in
its history, and, more importantly, without Ford there would
very likely be no Jaguar today. It's been tuned by Jaguar for
235 horsepower at 6800 rpm and 216 lb-ft of torque at 4100 rpm.
There is very good power at all engine speeds, and it's a good
choice of power for a luxury-sports sedan. If more power is
needed, there's always the 294 horsepower V8 or the 390-hp
supercharged V8 in the ``R'' model. For 2004 the V6's original
five-speed automatic has been replaced by the six-speed ZF unit
found previously only in the V8 models. It's smooth and fast in
operation, adding performance, fuel economy, and refinement.
The five-speed manual is still available by special order, but
is not really necessary in order to have full enjoyment of the
S-Type's capabilities.

CONCLUSIONS: The Jaguar S-Type's mix of classic styling and
modern specification revitalized the company when it debuted a
few years ago. It's aging very well, and continues to provide
style, substance, and value in the mid-luxury class.